FinancialBliss: My mortgage free journey…

financialbliss

Hi Kaz,

Apologies for the delay in replying…

…we took the playstation 2 away with us – handy for a few games for #1, plus doubles up as a DVD player. Started watching 24 season 6 (e-bay purchase) while away and have just finished it off since we got back on Friday – watched the last two hours earlier this evening.

Lake District was ok. Weather not particularly good – first evening was quite cold and when we got up in the morning, inside our static caravan was only 6 degrees C (according to baby monitor!) . Luckily we’d took some quilts and the weather warmed up throughout the week, but with patchy spells of rain, some heavy.

Was a bit difficult keeping a 22 month old and a 4 year old both happy at the same time, but we managed. Possibly did a few too many trips / events out and could have reduced the spending a bit, but we now know for next time.


We’re away again in 7 weeks time – booked last year – this time to North Wales. Planning to do Chester zoo as that's not too far away, plus need to research some other days out. Hopefully the weather will be better in June, so next time we’re planning on taking our 3 bikes and the baby seat for my bike!

FB.

financialbliss

hostertlady wrote: »

Well hello there, wondered where you had gone,, it's been a long time since you last posted.............

Oops - bit of last minute packing - didn't manage to say we were away for a week...

FB.

Kaz2904

Thanks FB for mentioning me by name!
Sorry to hear that the weather wasn't great.... was the scenery good? Would you consider doing it again when the little'un's older?
You may find that you are going to be quite tied for time when your eldest is at school and unfortunately you'll find that the prices will rise hugely. (Very sad confession coming here!) - we're going camping at the beginning of June (13th) and it's not a bad price but DH is in rebellion ATM! Does not want to go camping. Or cook on camping stoves. Or sleep in a sleeping bag. Or definately and (shhhhhhh) about this! Does not want to go on a car rally!!!! (Which DS will think is the Mutts Nuts!).

Have to say just you wait until the peer pressure piles on you big time!

I have to say- I don't know about you but every time I go anywhere near the school or the supermarket DS starts at me- "Mummy can we get my school uniform today then- I'll need it soon Mummy can we get it today Mummy?"

Enough to drive you crackers! - Enjoy!

setmefree2

financialbliss wrote: »

Planning to do Chester zoo .

This is my favourite zoo:D Your kids will love it.

evab_2

Hope you have a brill time when you come up to North Wales, we love living here. I agree Chester Zoo is fab, I had some vouchers recently I'll try and find them for you and see if they're still in date.

We're going to see what Greenwood forest park is like soon, so will let you know about that and of course the whole area is great for walking!

Ev

gillybean73

Hi really enjoyed reading through your mfw diary.
I'm feeling inspired, before coming onto MSE i never thought of mortgage as debt. We are on a tracker mortgage so I am going to overpay by paying the amount when our mortgage was at it's highest even now it's at it's lowest. Basically putting myself on a fixed product instead of getting excited and spending the extra cash every time there is a rate cut. Next will work on how I can save more money to overpay when our deal ends.
See I'm addicted already.

I agree Chester Zoo is my favourite zoo too.

financialbliss

Kaz2904 wrote: »

Thanks FB for mentioning me by name!
Sorry to hear that the weather wasn't great.... was the scenery good? Would you consider doing it again when the little'un's older?
You may find that you are going to be quite tied for time when your eldest is at school and unfortunately you'll find that the prices will rise hugely. (Very sad confession coming here!) - we're going camping at the beginning of June (13th) and it's not a bad price but DH is in rebellion ATM! Does not want to go camping. Or cook on camping stoves. Or sleep in a sleeping bag. Or definately and (shhhhhhh) about this! Does not want to go on a car rally!!!! (Which DS will think is the Mutts Nuts!).

Have to say just you wait until the peer pressure piles on you big time!

I have to say- I don't know about you but every time I go anywhere near the school or the supermarket DS starts at me- "Mummy can we get my school uniform today then- I'll need it soon Mummy can we get it today Mummy?"

Enough to drive you crackers! - Enjoy!

@Kaz / all - I may not comment on all posts made here,but I can assure everyone that I do read every post and appreciate the time people take to read and make comments here!

Scenery good - little 'uns didn't really appreciate it though!

Totally appreciate the point on holiday prices - for our next holiday in June, we found that the nearer we got to the school 6 weeks holidays, the more expensive the holidays ended up - the 6 week block sometimes being double or more than a month or so earlier - hence we settled on June - weather should be ok and as #1 is still in nursery, it's not too much of a problem him taking a break for a week.

Camping - enjoy camping. Used to throw a tent in the car on a Friday and end up in the lakes or somewhere - all unplanned and before we had kids. We now have a 6 person tent - we're pondering using it in August after #2 turns 2, but we're unsure if she's a little too young for this - she's a bad sleeper!

June 13th - That's the date we're off to Wales - it's a Friday, ie Friday 13th :eek:

Finally - 'kaz2904' - either 2904 is you cash card pin which you have trouble remembering , or perhaps it's your birthday tomorrow?

If so - happy birthday - hope you have a nice day.

FB.

financialbliss

A few other things to report this evening…

Travel pass. A good while ago (January I think), I reported that I’d joined the work travel scheme. My particular type of ticket scheme – there’s a number of sub-schemes running depending on what type of travel ticket you require, started last Friday - 25th April. Popped into work for a few minutes last Friday to pick up travel pass. This runs from 25/04/2008 to 24/04/2009.

Annual ticket cost if I had bought up front was 590.00 Paid for over 12 months via a salary deduction scheme. So, I’m getting an interest free loan over 12 months, plus I get a reduction as part of the scheme incentive. April pay slip shows 45.25 deduction, so that’s an equivalent annual cost of 543.00 – representing about a 7.9% discount. A normal monthly pass would have cost me 55.10

Not bad at all for minimal effort – just spent a few minutes fillin in the form!

Pay slip. After the 2007 budget and pension changes, April pay slip altered. Less tax : 33.35. More National Insurance : 5.25. More pension contribusion : 23.90. Overall better off by 4.20

Nationwide. Got a card reader from them today. Don’t yet know too much about this, but basically for certain online transactions, you’ll soon have to provide additional authentication by way of a chip and pin card reader. Put debit card in and enter pin – you then get a code to enter into the online banking in order to verify transactions.

Mortgage interest. This broke the 1,000 pound barrier while on holiday. Full breakdown for months January thru April come 30th April.

FB.

Kaz2904

Most certainly is my birthday tomorrow you genius!
I will be 30 so next year I may start counting backwards....
I had the nationwide jobby through a while back. It's a pita when I want to pay anything to the mortgage co because I have to go and get it and do all that malarkey too- maybe they want to stop me overpaying the mortgage?
I'm sure I will eventually get used to it though. Harrumph.
Right off to bed now. Just been totalling up all of my reciepts for the grocery challenge- scary looking stuff as I still have 24 days and £96 ish left!
Spent a hideous amount on decorating stuff over this weekend but at least we are finally coming to the end of doing the lounge. Dining room next. Just keeping our eyes peeled on ebay for the furniture that we want. I've bid on a tv unit and really hope I get it as I do like it lots. Will have to pull back a bit then otherwise the savings are going to vanish into nowhere.
TTFN, Kaz.

setmefree2

gillybean73 wrote: »

I'm feeling inspired, before coming onto MSE i never thought of mortgage as debt. We are on a tracker mortgage so I am going to overpay by paying the amount when our mortgage was at it's highest even now it's at it's lowest.
See I'm addicted already.

I agree Chester Zoo is my favourite zoo too.

Gillybean - you should start a diary so we can watch you get more and more addicted.:D